Home from our little holiday. We had five days of tacky fun, my favourite kind of holiday, caravan park, eco lodge, beach, mountains, RSL food, markets, bush walking, factory tours (my favourite) and visiting aunts and baby cousins. Perfect. AND we managed to spend 18 days straight without going cuckoo…

Mia actually freaked out in this shop and we all freaked out a little in the boat ride at the Ginger Factory (similar to Small World Ride at Disneyland), it’s that same mix of innocence and childlike horror as Hansel and Gretel, like when you laugh then burst into tears, too weird.

I think the feeling was caught in these photo’s, when your 14,

and when your 8,

I think it’s because you can’t see around the bends so you can hear strange noises mixed with high pitched cheerful singing and it’s just wrong. Anyway it was fun and we went on it twice! Apart from that I MUST do some work as my etsy shop is nearly empty! Also I will be having another Apron Giveaway and will post it by the end of this week.

PS. I was just reading that they have had to close the Small World Ride at Disneyland because the original boats made in the 1960’s can’t hold the weight of passengers because they weigh so much more than people did in the 60’s, they keep hitting the bottom. Oh dear. They are getting new boats.

Look what I got! I have just done a swap through Etsy Dust Team and received a wonderful, generous parcel of gorgeousness from Liz at Hundreds of Buttons today. And she also included a gift for Mia which was extremely thoughtful and very well received so thank you so much Liz!!! I hope you like your gift as much.

My favourite piece from Liz is the button bouquet, it’s all Dr. Seuss-y. (did you know that Seuss is pronounced so it rhymes with voice – try it, it’s good, my kids hate it when I tell them that every time we are near anything Dr.Suess).

Speaking of lovliness, have a look at these stunning and clever creations from Adele at DELicious Designz.

I love the idea of food stuff in jewellery and the dog tags are great. The pendants and dog tags are made from spoons! Has anyone ever swallowed something weird? Mia swalled a hot pink platform Barbie shoe when she three. We never saw it again but then again we never looked for it either! I’ve never done anything like that. Rick’s mum swallowed some gladwrap once…mmmm. Okay I’m doing two posts tonight because we are going away on Sunday to an Eco Lodge to bushwalk, plant trees, look at the moon and eat in a communal kitchen! Help me! We’re hoping it will be relaxing but I am a bit scared to be honest. We should be back in 5 days, if I never write another post (after the one I am just about to write, that’s dumb because you already read that one, because it’s up there, right?) anyway please tell someone to come looking for me!

This year I decided to make the kids Easter chocolate and only buy them one egg each. It’s been a bit hit and miss. Making your own eggs in molds was a lot harder than I thought and caused me no end of frustration! So I went for some favorites from the past, chocolate nests and peanut butter cups.

These are made with chinese fried noodles and the recipe is on the packet, they are called chocolate spiders actually but I made them into nests and put some speckled eggs in them. We also made hot cross buns, they are yummy but not spiced enough for me so I would use a different recipe next time. I would like to make some really traditional ones with plenty of dried fruit in them.

So that’s Easter, walking on the beach and a movie tonight will finish the day off nicely.

Happy Easter!

It’s been raining. That’s all I know. It’s been wet. It’s been flooding. Which means days off school, load after load of muddy washing, wet dogs, soggy rabbits, cooking and eating and starring out the window. I love going out into the garden after the rain.

AND look what I found out there, my first mandarin! I’m so pleased, we have had many lemons and limes but no mandies, now here she is…

And what a darling she is too. And those other darlings in my garden…

We also had Henry’s Easter Hat Parade. Although I would have loved to make a traditional Easter bonnet I’m not sure he would have worn it so he decided a “gangster bunny” was more his style…

That bunny is wearing a hoodie.

I’m giving away this pretty apron (for Australian residents only). The flower fabric is called Breeze Lei and is designed by Sandi Henderson for Michael Miller. It is quite long, nice big pocket and the tie is extra long so you can whip it around to the front which is always handy. Just leave a comment to be in the running! I’ll draw a random winner on April 14th (which is my birthday).  Good luck!

April 14 – And the winner is Nicky…Congrats Nicky!

I am making my own easter eggs this year, the eggs in the shops are too expensive and pretty boring. I have ordered my molds from Choc Art. I’ve never done this before so it should be fun and hopefully it will work out. Also, check out these adorable cookie transfer sheets from Fancy Flours.

Really sweet German ones too…

AND very cool cupcake holders…

How beautiful they are. I can’t find anything similar here in Australia but I want to, I really want them! I love easter, I love chocolate, I love eggs and chickens, bunny rabbits are okay, we have one, dear Kiki (see below). Easter is a major crafty time so I’m sure there will be plenty to post about over the next couple of weeks.

She looks a litle Thumper in this photo, she’s usually a very happy bunny.

Do I get the award for crappiest Valentine Cake ever? $3.97 (on sale)!

Much love

Rachelle

We headed up to Brisbane to celebrate Australia Day this year – it was great! There was so much going on, swimming, circus, music, magic shows, markets, ferris wheel, fireworks and even Bollywood Dancing lessons! Wow! Here’s some pick pics…

Brisbane is unique in that it has this crazy beach/pool across from the city (Henry loves it!)…

Here’s my darlings practicing their circus skills…

Check out this yummy but slightly creepy chocolate filled banana…how did they get that in there?

And this guy is upside down!

Great day!

Back from our mini-break, had a wonderful and very relaxing time. I had cocktails by the pool for the first time…I get it…yes it is very relaxing…I plan to do it again! We stopped in for old fashioned burgers and chips and this tasteful piece on the cafe wall caught my eye…

That’s right, it’s Booby Time…what time is Booby Time? All the time! Also in the cafe was a wall of “famous” signatures, here’s Allan Brechdt’s…you know, Paris Hiltons driver!

Very weird.

Postquote:  “My husband said ’show me your boobs’ and I had to pull up my skirt…so it was time to get them done!” Dolly Parton (even weirder)

In the middle of organising my entire life including business, home, children, husband, dogs, rabbits, fish, weddings, packing for holidays and christmas shopping my computer decided (as I nearly did) it had had enough and went permanantly sleepy byes. It was a hand-me-down anyway and we were never that close (now I feel guilty).

Anyhoo life goes on and now I have a new computer, a shiny red one to boot! So back to blogging. Yes we have had a busy few weeks (months, years) and I am crazy tired, in fact my shoulders ache just from typing this. I can’t seem to catch up on lost sleep. We have done a house swap with a family in Sydney, we get to enjoy their home and the big city for 3 weeks and I hope they enjoy our beachside home and rural surrounds.

My husbands son was married on Sunday, a beautiful LONG wedding (started at 7.18am when we woke up and finished about midnight). Here’s Henry getting strawberry stains all over his first fancy white shirt…

The stains are worth the great photo! Guess what? I’m going to finish this post up for now because I have had major dramas getting photo’s to upload…however I intend to come back to this this evening when I get back from dinner (I am ashamed to say we are going out for…dum…dum…dum…ribs), it’s so wrong, you should see the pile of bones from eight people eating ribs – where’s the waiter – dispose of the evidence. It’s only once a year so I forgive myself ahead of time and just enjoy!

See you for Part 2.

Rachelle

Back from ribs…it was GOOD! That’s all I’ll say about that.

Look at this great tape dispenser I picked up in Newtown a few days ago…

And it’s Christmas!

Bit of a sad Christmas collage but what can you do?

Merry Christmas everyone and a hopeful and joyful New Year…

Postquote:
I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. (The most wonderful) Charles Dickens